ALDINE – Aldine ISD Superintendent Dr. LaTonya M. Goffney toured five campuses as a group of students returned to in-person instruction on Monday, Sept. 21.
Dr. Goffney made her first stop at Davis High School where she was greeted by the school’s drum corps, which performed for her and other onlookers.
“Thank you for waking us up,” Dr. Goffney said to the percussionists. “How are you all feeling? I hope you are all cautiously optimistic. I can’t wait to see you all perform during the year.”
She then toured a number of classrooms along with Davis High Principal Anthony Watkins.
Dr. Goffney’s next stop was to Hambrick Middle School where she was greeted by the school’s new Principal Jose Almendarez. She also stopped by the cafeteria to visit with members of the school’s Child Nutrition and thanked them for their dedicated service to Hambrick’s students.
“Thank you all so much,” she sad. “You have been working so hard.”
Again, she visited a number of classrooms with Mr. Almendarez. “I’m so excited about your new principal,” she said to the students she visited. “We want to transition back but we want to do it safely and slowly. I’m excited to welcome you back.”
The next stop was to Magrill Primary School where Dr. Goffney again toured a number of classrooms and spent time looking over some of Aldine ISD’s youngest learners work.
Then it was off to Teague Middle School for more classroom visits before the final stop of her first-day tour was completed at Ogden Elementary School, where she sat for an interview with KHOU Channel 11 before visiting classrooms.
Joining Dr. Goffney on her visits were Chief Business and Operations Officer Dr. Tamika Alford-Stephens, Chief of Schools Katy Roede, Chief Communications Officer Sheleah Reed, Assistant Superintendent of Operations Derrick Sanders, School Assistant Superintendent of High Schools Todd Lindeman, School Assistant Superintendent of Middle Schools LaTonia Amerson and School Assistant Superintendent of Elementary Schools LaToya Wynne.
Aldine ISD’s COVID Task Force has worked to identify the groups of students who would benefit most from in-person instruction. Those groups are listed below:
Transition Group 1
This group includes Aldine’s youngest learners, those who are in Special Education, and secondary recent immigrants who are identified as part of our AEA program. Students who have been assigned to our alternative education program housed at the Knippel Alternative Education Center and students who attend Hall Success Academy will also return. First-graders and sixth-graders will also return. At the high school level, we will welcome back ninth-graders and 10th-graders on a hybrid model:
• Students whose last name begins with A-L will attend class on campus Mondays and Tuesdays.
• Students whose last name begins with M-Z will attend class on campus Wednesdays and Thursdays.
• Fridays are reserved for online learning.
Transition Group 2
In addition to the group above the district will welcome back kindergarten students, second, third and seventh-graders. At the high school level, we will welcome back 11th-graders on a hybrid model:
• Students whose last name begins with A-L will attend class on campus Mondays and Tuesdays.
• Students whose last name begins with M-Z will attend class on campus Wednesdays and Thursdays.
• Fridays are reserved for online learning.
Transition Group 3
The final group of students will return the week of October 5: fourth-graders, fifth-graders, and eighthgraders. The Class of 2021 will return following the high school hybrid schedule:
• Students whose last name begins with A-L will attend class on campus Mondays and Tuesdays.
• Students whose last name begins with M-Z will attend class on campus Wednesdays and Thursdays.
• Fridays are reserved for online learning.
The Next Nine Weeks
For students not in these transition groups, or those who opted to learn at home for the first nine weeks, learning will continue to take place virtually. The district has received positive feedback from families so far about the great interactions that have been possible virtually.